History of Alexander Zverev in Timeline

Alexander Zverev, a German professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 4, reached a career-high of world No. 2 in 2022. He boasts 24 ATP Tour singles titles and two doubles titles. While a three-time major runner-up, Zverev's significant accomplishments include securing a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and winning the ATP Finals in both 2018 and 2021.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1986: Teenager streak since Boris Becker

In 2016, Zverev became the first teenager to record three consecutive victories against top ten opponents since Boris Becker in 1986.

1995: Boris Becker wins season-ending championships

In 1995, Boris Becker was the last German to win the season-ending championships before Zverev's victory in 2018.

April 1997: Alexander Zverev's Birth

In April 1997, Alexander "Sascha" Zverev was born.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Tommy Haas wins silver at Sydney Olympics

In 2021, Zverev won a gold medal at the Olympics, becoming the first German man to win a gold medal in singles and the first to win any medal since Tommy Haas won silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

2004: First top 20 win since Gasquet

In 2014, at the International German Open, Zverev recorded his first career victory against Robin Haase and his first top 20 victory over No. 16 Mikhail Youzhny. He became the first 17-year old to defeat a top 20 opponent since Richard Gasquet in 2004.

2006: First Semifinal since Cilic

In 2014, at the International German Open, Zverev made a semifinal since Marin Čilić in 2006.

2006: Youngest debut in top 20 since Djokovic

In 2016, Zverev's third round appearance at the Shanghai Masters helped him rise to No. 20 in the ATP rankings, making him the youngest player to debut in the top 20 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.

2007: David Nalbandian wins multiple Masters titles

In 2007, David Nalbandian was the first player outside of the Big Four to win multiple Masters titles in the same season.

2007: Youngest Masters Champion since Djokovic

In May of 2017, Zverev won his first Masters title at the Rome Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final to become the youngest Masters champion since Djokovic in 2007 and the first such champion born in the 1990s.

2009: Youngest Challenger title winner since Tomic

At the age of 17 years and 2 months, in 2014, Zverev became the youngest player to win a Challenger title since Bernard Tomic in 2009 and the twelfth youngest in history.

2013: Jez Green joins Zverev's team

Beginning in 2013, fitness trainer Jez Green, who previously worked with Andy Murray, also worked with Alexander Zverev.

2013: 2013 French Open Finalist Ferrer

In 2013, David Ferrer was a French Open Finalist, prior to working with Alexander Zverev in 2020.

2014: Stan Wawrinka won Australian Open

In 2020, Zverev defeated Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, in the quarterfinal.

2016: St. Petersburg Open Win

In 2016, After the US Open, Zverev returned to Europe and won his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open, recording his first win over No. 9 Berdych in the semifinals, and No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the final.

2016: Most Double Faults

In 2016, Alexander Zverev hit the most double faults on tour.

2017: Zverev names Roger Federer as his tennis idol

In 2017, Alexander Zverev stated that Roger Federer is his tennis idol. He also expressed his support for the Miami Heat in the NBA and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, while also enjoying basketball and golf in his free time.

2017: Hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero

In the summer of 2017, Alexander Zverev made the decision to hire Juan Carlos Ferrero as his coach at the Washington Open.

August 2018: Hired Ivan Lendl as Coach

In August 2018, Ivan Lendl joined Alexander Zverev's coaching team.

2018: Improved Serving and Return Game

By 2018, Alexander Zverev had improved his serving and return game, ranking 19th in serve rating and 8th in return rating. He landed 64.2% of first serves and had the fifth highest percentage of first serve points won at 32.4%.

July 2019: Split with Ivan Lendl

In July 2019, Alexander Zverev and Ivan Lendl split up due to disappointing results and personal differences.

October 2019: Escalation of Alleged Violence

In October 2019, according to a second article by Ben Rothenberg released in Slate magazine in August 2021, there was an escalation of alleged violence by Alexander Zverev against Olga Sharypova.

2019: Alleged Abuse at Laver Cup

During the 2019 Laver Cup, Alexander Zverev allegedly punched Olga Sharypova in the face during an argument in the pair's hotel room.

2019: Mixed Doubles with Kerber

In 2019, Alexander Zverev last played mixed doubles with Angelique Kerber before their matches at the 2024 United Cup.

2019: First Round Loss at Wimbledon

In 2019, Alexander Zverev lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech in five sets. This loss marked the first time he had been defeated in the first round of a major tournament since 2019.

2019: Davis Cup Qualifying Round Victory

In 2019, Alexander Zverev participated in the Davis Cup qualifying round for Germany against Hungary, winning both of his singles matches. Germany won the tie 5–0. However, he did not participate in the finals in November, where Germany lost in the quarterfinals.

2019: Laver Cup Win

In 2019, Alexander Zverev played a crucial role in the Laver Cup, winning the clinching match against Milos Raonic.

2019: 21st Title in Chengdu and Semifinals in Beijing

In 2019, Alexander Zverev's Asian swing was highlighted by his 21st title win in Chengdu, where he beat Roman Safiullin in three sets. He continued his form by reaching the semifinals in Beijing, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev in their 5th meeting of the year.

2019: Hopman Cup Final Rematch

In 2019, Alexander Zverev, paired with Angelique Kerber, reached the Hopman Cup final for the second consecutive year, setting up a rematch with Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Despite winning all six of their singles matches in the round-robin group, they lost two of their three mixed doubles matches. In the final, after Federer defeated Zverev and Kerber defeated Bencic, the match was decided by the mixed doubles, which Switzerland won in a third-set tiebreak.

2019: Runner-up at the Mexican Open

In 2019, Zverev finished runner-up to Nick Kyrgios at the Mexican Open.

May 2020: Alleged Abuse Incident in Berlin

According to a penalty order issued in October 2023, Alexander Zverev allegedly physically abused and damaged the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020.

May 2020: Alleged Assault by Zverev

Brenda Patea claimed in an interview in November 2023 that, in May 2020, Alexander Zverev allegedly pushed her into a wall and choked her during a dispute.

June 2020: COVID-19 Self-Isolation and Party

In June 2020, after possible exposure to COVID-19 following Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour, Alexander Zverev announced self-isolation after testing negative. However, he was later seen at a party in Monaco, drawing criticism.

October 2020: Olga Sharypova's Abuse Allegations

In October 2020, Olga Sharypova accused Alexander Zverev of physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, detailing alleged violent incidents in an article in Racquet magazine.

2020: Most Double Faults (tied)

In 2020, Alexander Zverev hit the most double faults on tour.

2020: ATP Cup Matches

In 2020, Alexander Zverev represented Germany at the ATP Cup, playing alongside Jan-Lennard Struff, Kevin Krawietz, and Andreas Mies. During the group stage, held in 2020, Zverev lost his matches against Alex de Minaur, Denis Shapovalov, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Germany finished third in their group and did not advance.

2020: Working with David Ferrer

In 2020, Alexander Zverev started working with David Ferrer as his coach.

2020: First Major Singles Semifinal at Australian Open

In 2020, Zverev reached his first major singles semifinal at the Australian Open, where he lost to Dominic Thiem in four sets.

2020: Wins two consecutive ATP 250 events in Cologne

In October 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zverev won two consecutive ATP 250 events in Cologne, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime and Diego Schwartzman in the finals.

January 2021: Split with David Ferrer

In January 2021, Alexander Zverev and David Ferrer announced their split.

July 2021: Performance on grass in Halle and Wimbledon

In July 2021, Zverev lost in the second round in Halle, and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, equalling his best achievement at the tournament, before being defeated by Félix Auger-Aliassime. Following this, he returned to the top 5.

August 2021: Injunction Against Slate and Carillo Resignation

In August 2021, Alexander Zverev secured an injunction against Slate magazine, while commentator Mary Carillo stepped down from the 2021 Laver Cup in response to the ATP's handling of the abuse allegations.

August 2021: Second Article on Abuse Allegations

In August 2021, a second article by Ben Rothenberg was released in Slate magazine, continuing Olga Sharypova's story of alleged abuse by Alexander Zverev and detailing escalating violence in October 2019.

November 2021: Rolex Paris Masters and Career-High Ranking

In November 2021, Zverev reached the semifinals of the Rolex Paris Masters, and as a result, he equaled his singles career-high ranking of World No. 3 on November 8, 2021.

2021: ATP Cup Performance

In 2021, Alexander Zverev again represented Germany at the ATP Cup. He won his match against Denis Shapovalov but lost to Novak Djokovic in singles. He teamed up with Jan-Lennard Struff to defeat Djokovic and Nikola Ćaćić in doubles. Germany advanced to the semifinals where Zverev lost to Daniil Medvedev. Germany then lost to Russia 2–1.

2021: Laver Cup Win

In 2021, Alexander Zverev won the Laver cup. In 2024, he won the United Cup, which was his first team event since the Laver Cup in 2021.

2021: Birth of daughter Mayla

In 2021, Alexander Zverev's daughter, Mayla, was born with Brenda Patea.

2021: Jez Green departs Zverev's team

In 2021, Jez Green departed Alexander Zverev's team after working with him for around seven years.

2021: Wins 2021 ATP Finals in Turin

In 2021, Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin for a fifth successive season. He defeated Djokovic and Medvedev to win the title, becoming the only active player other than Djokovic and Federer to win multiple ATP Finals titles.

2021: Wins Western & Southern Open

In 2021, Zverev reached his second Masters 1000 final of the year at the Western & Southern Open, defeating Andrey Rublev in the final for his 17th title.

2021: Quarterfinals at BNP Paribas Open

In 2021, Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open, losing to Taylor Fritz despite having two match points.

2021: ATP Cup and Australian Open

In February 2021, Zverev represented Germany at the ATP Cup, reaching the semi-finals. At the 2021 Australian Open, he lost in the quarterfinals to Novak Djokovic.

2021: Wins 14th ATP title in Acapulco

In March 2021, Zverev won his 14th ATP title in Acapulco, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.

2021: Relationship with Sophia Thomalla

Since 2021, Alexander Zverev has been dating German actress Sophia Thomalla.

June 2022: Injury at French Open and Career-High Ranking

In June 2022, Zverev retired from his semifinal match against Rafael Nadal at the French Open after a severe ankle injury. Despite his exit, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 on June 13, 2022.

June 2022: Winning drought before Australian Open

In June 2022, before the 2023 Australian Open, Alexander Zverev had not won a match for a prolonged period, which ended in the first round of the tournament.

August 2022: Zverev announces type 1 diabetes diagnosis and launches foundation

In August 2022, Alexander Zverev publicly announced that he has type 1 diabetes, having been diagnosed at the age of three. He also launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with diabetes.

2022: Mexican Open Default

At the 2022 Mexican Open, Alexander Zverev was defaulted from the tournament after repeatedly striking the umpire's chair with his racket. He received fines and a suspended ban.

2022: ATP Cup and Australian Open performance

In 2022, Zverev represented Germany at the ATP Cup, where they failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Seeded third at the Australian Open, he reached the fourth round before being defeated by Denis Shapovalov.

January 2023: ATP Investigation Conclusion

In late January 2023, the ATP concluded its 15-month investigation into abuse allegations against Alexander Zverev, stating they would not punish him due to insufficient evidence.

July 2023: Second Woman's Allegations

In July 2023, allegations from a second woman became public through a court filing, with a penalty order requested over alleged bodily harm against Brenda Patea.

October 2023: Penalty Order Issued

On October 2, 2023, a Berlin court issued a penalty order against Alexander Zverev for "physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020".

November 2023: Patea's Public Statement

On November 1, 2023, Brenda Patea publicly stated in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung that during a dispute in May 2020, Alexander Zverev pushed her into a wall and choked her.

2023: Insulin Injection Controversy at 2023 French Open

During a match at the 2023 French Open, Alexander Zverev was initially disallowed from injecting insulin on-court. This decision led to criticism from the International Diabetes Federation and the JDRF. Tournament organizers later clarified that Zverev would be permitted to inject insulin on-court.

2023: US Open Controversy and Quarterfinal Loss

During his 2023 US Open match against Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev stopped play to complain about a fan shouting the opening stanza to "Deutschlandlied," which he interpreted as a Nazi sentiment. He later lost the quarterfinals match against Carlos Alcaraz. However, his performance in this match, along with the Roland Garros 2023 semi-final, highlighted his return to top form.

2023: Settlement in lawsuit filed by ex-partner

In 2023, Alexander Zverev reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by his ex-partner, Brenda Patea.

2023: United Cup and Australian Open

In 2023, Alexander Zverev started his season at the United Cup, representing Germany. He lost to Jiří Lehečka and Taylor Fritz, and Germany didn't qualify for the knockout round. At the Australian Open 2023, seeded 12th, he won his first match since June 2022 but lost in the second round to Michael Mmoh.

2023: ATP Finals Qualification

In 2023, despite challenges, Alexander Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021. He won against Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev, but lost to Daniil Medvedev. He failed to qualify for the semifinals due to Alcaraz and Medvedev's higher win-loss percentage in sets, concluding his 2023 season.

January 2024: ATP Council Appointment and Break Point Criticism

In January 2024, Alexander Zverev was appointed to the ATP Players Advisory Council, drawing criticism due to pending domestic abuse charges. He also appeared on Netflix's "Break Point", which was criticized for ignoring the abuse allegations.

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May 2024: Berlin Trial Begins

The trial against Alexander Zverev in the Berlin Criminal Court began on May 31, 2024, increasing scrutiny and interest in the allegations due to his semifinal run at the Australian Open.

June 2024: Trial Terminated

On June 7, 2024, Alexander Zverev's trial was terminated after a settlement was reached out-of-court, with Zverev agreeing to pay €200,000. The settlement did not include an admission of guilt.

2024: Grass Court Titles

As of 2024, Alexander Zverev has yet to win a title on grass, but has reached two finals and defeated Roger Federer on that surface.

2024: Rolex Paris Masters Triumph and World No. 2 Ranking

At the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters, Alexander Zverev defeated Ugo Humbert in the final, securing his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season and attaining the World No. 2 ranking.

2024: United Cup Win

In 2024, Alexander Zverev led Team Germany to victory at the United Cup in Sydney, Australia. He won his singles matches against Lorenzo Sonego and Adrian Mannarino, and partnered with Laura Siegemund to win the decisive mixed doubles match against Poland in the final, securing the title for Germany. He also had mixed doubles matches with Angelique Kerber, marking their first partnership since 2019.

2024: French Open Final Appearance

In 2024, Alexander Zverev reached his first Major final since the 2020 US Open at the French Open, defeating Casper Ruud in the semi-final. He ultimately lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the final after a controversial overrule in the fifth set, giving up his two-sets-to-one lead, and is therefore still chasing his maiden slam title.

2024: US Open Quarterfinals and 450th Career Win

In 2024, Alexander Zverev reached the US Open quarterfinals, securing his 450th career win against Brandon Nakashima. He became the second player born in the 1990s, after Grigor Dimitrov, to reach 450 ATP wins. He qualified for his seventh appearance at the 2024 ATP Finals. He lost in the quarterfinals to Taylor Fritz.

2024: Hamburg Open Final

In 2024, Alexander Zverev reached the final at the Hamburg Open but lost to Arthur Fils in three sets.

2024: Sixth Masters Title at Rome

In 2024, Alexander Zverev won his sixth Masters title at the Italian Open in Rome, defeating Nicolás Jarry in the final. It was his best result in Rome since winning his first Masters 1000 title at the 2017 Italian Open, and his first Masters title since 2021.

April 2025: Bavarian Open Win and Madrid Open Round of 16

On 20 April 2025, Alexander Zverev won the Bavarian Open for the third time, gaining his 24th title and reclaiming the number 2 spot from Alcaraz. He also reached the round of 16 at the Madrid Open, where he received a code violation for photographing a ball mark.